Lamar Soutter Exhibit - His War Years

Bastogne - World War II

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Source: Slide collection of H. B. Wheeler, M.D.

Source: Slide collection of H. B. Wheeler, M.D.

Source: Slide collection of H. B. Wheeler, M.D.

Source: Personal collection of J. K. Sunshine

Source: Personal collection of J. K. Sunshine

In 1943 Dr. Soutter enlisted in the Army's Fourth Auxiliary Surgical Unit and commanded a team attached to the First and Third Armies who were fighting in Europe (top photo; Dr. Soutter is on the right in front).

On December 26, 1944 Dr. Soutter was the first volunteer when General McAuliffe called for medical assistance for the wounded troops who were surrounded at Bastogne in Belgium near the French border. Twelve medical personnel filed into an engineless glider that had been loaded with medical supplies. The glider's towline was picked up by a C47 cargo plane and the aircraft became airborne. Then, the tether line was disengaged and the glider sailed low and silent over the forests of Ardennes. They landed in the middle of a field. The occupants had to wait for a lull in the fighting to leave the glider and then had to run for the medical tent. Dr. Soutter and the other medical personnel performed 63 operations in the next 24 hours. Within the next couple of days, the First and Third Army Divisions broke through the enemy perimeter and began to make their way to liberate Bastogne. In mid-January 1945 Dr. Soutter and each member of his medical team received the Silver Star (see left below), the second highest military medal awarded, for "conspicuous gallantry in action."

In 2002 the World War II Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Association named their Worcester chapter after Major Lamar Soutter.

After Bastogne, Dr. Soutter was attached to the 42nd Field Hospital, where he worked with Corporal James K. Sunshine, Surgical Technician 3rd Platoon. The two bottom photos show an abdominal surgery (Corporal Sunshine left, Dr. Soutter center) and a group of enlisted men from the 42nd posing with a wrecked German 88 in Luxembourg (Dr. Soutter second from right).

Mr. Sunshine recounted his World War II experiences and the beginning of a lifelong friendship with Major Soutter in an article originally published under the title "War Stories" in the Providence Sun Journal in 1994, excerpts of which are reproduced at this website: http://users.skynet.be/jeeper/page124.html

Web Resources for Further Information:

Tribute to the American Combat Glider Pilots of World War II

National WWII Glider Pilots Association, Inc.

World War II Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Association

42nd Field Hospital

Source used for this page:

Slide collection of H. B. Wheeler, M.D., Harry M. Haidak Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Emeritus
Personal photo collection of James K. Sunshine